Blood bag system with retaining cassette

ABSTRACT

A blood bag system includes a PPP bag and a liquid drug bag which are accommodated adjacent to each other in pockets of a centrifugal drum of a centrifugal transport device. In addition, the blood bag system includes a retaining portion that retains the PPP bag and the liquid drug bag together, and includes a cassette accommodated in the pockets in a retaining state of the retaining portion. The cassette has a detachment mechanism capable of detaching at least the PPP bag.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a blood bag system set in a centrifugaltransport device.

BACKGROUND ART

A blood bag system including a blood bag storing blood, a PPP bagstoring platelet poor plasma, which is a blood component, a liquid drugbag storing a red blood cell preservation solution, and the like is setin a centrifugal transport device at the time of centrifuging blood (seeJP H5-184667 A). The centrifugal transport device applies a centrifugalforce to the set blood bag to separate the blood in the blood bag into aplurality of types of blood components, and transports a plasmacomponent to the PPP bag via a tube connected to the blood bag. Aftertaking out the blood bag system from the centrifugal transport device,the liquid drug in the liquid drug bag is transported to the blood bagin which concentrated red blood cells remain.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Meanwhile, when the blood bag system is set, the PPP bag is accommodatedin a PPP bag pocket (bag accommodating portion) of the centrifugaltransport device, and the liquid drug bag is accommodated in a liquiddrug bag pocket (bag accommodating portion) of the centrifugal transportdevice. At this time, a tube connected to the PPP bag or the liquid drugbag is also accommodated in a predetermined path of the centrifugaltransport device or the liquid drug bag pocket. If the tube projects,the tube is likely to interfere with a peripheral structure of thecentrifugal transport device and break during centrifugation.

However, the work of accommodating the PPP bag and the liquid drug bagin the respective pockets while disposing the tube in the predeterminedpath requires a large amount of time and effort for a user, and there isa problem that it takes time to set the blood bag system with respect tothe centrifugal transport device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and anobject thereof is to provide a blood bag system capable of significantlyimproving working efficiency by facilitating work of disposing aplurality of bags in a centrifugal transport device with a simpleconfiguration.

In order to achieve the above object, an aspect of the present inventionis a blood bag system including: a first bag and a second bag which areaccommodated adjacent to each other in a bag accommodating portion of acentrifugal drum of a centrifugal transport device; and a cassette whichhas a retaining portion that retains both the first bag and the secondbag and is accommodated in the bag accommodating portion in a retainingstate of the retaining portion. The cassette has a detachment mechanismcapable of detaching at least the first bag.

Since the blood bag system includes the cassette, the first bag and thesecond bag retained by the cassette can be integrally handled. That is,a user can smoothly perform an operation of disposing the first andsecond bags in the bag accommodating portion by gripping and operatingthe cassette when setting the blood bag system in the centrifugaltransport device. Further, the blood bag system allows the first bag tobe detached from the cassette, thereby speeding up the work afterremoving the blood bag system from the centrifugal transport device.Therefore, the blood bag system can significantly improve the workefficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view illustrating an overall configuration of ablood bag system and a centrifugal transport device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a unit set area of the centrifugaltransport device.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a PPP bag, a liquid drug bag, and acassette.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of setting thePPP bag, the liquid drug bag, and the cassette in the centrifugaltransport device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of detaching thePPP bag from the cassette.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state wherethe cassette is folded and set in the blood collection device.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a state when a liquid drug issupplied from the liquid drug bag to a blood bag.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A blood bag system 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is set in a centrifugal transport device 12 as illustrated inFIG. 1 by a user such as a medical worker. The centrifugal transportdevice 12 centrifuges blood in the blood bag system 10 to generate andstore a plurality of types of blood components. Hereinafter, aconfiguration including the blood bag system 10 and the centrifugaltransport device 12 is referred to as a blood product manufacturingsystem 14.

The blood bag system 10 includes a pretreatment unit (not illustrated)used for blood sampling before centrifugation and a separator unit 16that generates blood components by centrifugation and individuallystores the blood components, and the both units are connected by a relaytube 18. The separator unit 16 is set in the centrifugal transportdevice 12 in a state where the relay tube 18 connected to thepretreatment unit is cut into the state illustrated in FIG. 1 before thecentrifugation.

The pretreatment unit of the blood bag system 10 collects whole bloodfrom a donor (blood donor) and removes a predetermined blood component(for example, a white blood cell) from the whole blood. Therefore, thepretreatment unit includes a blood collection needle, a blood collectionbag 134 (see FIG. 6), an initial flow blood bag, a filter (for example,a white blood cell removal filter), and the like, and is configured byconnecting the respective members via a plurality of tubes. Theseparator unit 16 is connected to the downstream side of the filter viathe relay tube 18. Specifically, the pretreatment unit stores the firstblood out of the whole blood of the donor, collected through the bloodcollection needle, in the initial flow blood bag, and then stores theremaining blood in the blood collection bag 134. Further, thepretreatment unit removes white blood cells in the filter by causing thewhole blood, stored in the blood collection bag 134, to flow to thefilter, and transports the removed blood (white-blood-cell-removedblood) to the separator unit 16.

On the other hand, the separator unit 16 of the blood bag system 10includes a plurality of bags 20 (a blood bag 22, a PPP bag 24, and aliquid drug bag 26), and is configured by connecting the respective bags20 via a plurality of tubes 30.

The blood bag 22 is directly connected to the relay tube 18 connected tothe pretreatment unit in a state of the blood bag system 10 provided asa product. Therefore, the blood bag 22 stores the removed bloodtransported from the filter at the time of collecting blood. The bloodbag 22 is set in the centrifugal transport device 12, and a centrifugalforce is applied by the operation of the centrifugal transport device12. As a result, the removed blood in the blood bag 22 is centrifugedinto blood components (platelet poor plasma (PPP), red blood cells(RBC)) and the like having different specific gravities. Then, the bloodbag 22 transports PPP under the operation of the centrifugal transportdevice 12 after centrifugation to store only the remaining RBC.

The PPP bag 24 is a medical bag (plasma bag: first bag) that stores PPP(plasma component) in a storage space 24 a by receiving the PPP suppliedfrom the blood bag 22. On the other hand, the liquid drug bag 26 is amedical bag (second bag) in which a red blood cell preservation solution(liquid drug), such as a MAP solution, an SAGM solution, and OPTISOL, isstored in advance in a storage space 26 a.

In addition, a segment tube 28 is formed before the separator unit 16 isset in the centrifugal transport device 12. The segment tube 28 has aplurality of sealed tubes 28 a in which blood of the donor (removedblood) exists. The plurality of sealed tubes 28 a are formed so as to becontinuous in series by cutting the relay tube 18, which connects theblood bag 22 and the pretreatment unit (filter), near the filter andfurther sealing the cut tube at predetermined intervals. The segmenttube 28 is cut by a user as necessary, and is used for checking blood orthe like.

The plurality of tubes 30 of the separator unit 16 branch into aplurality of tubes via a branching connector 32 (Y-type connector).Specifically, the plurality of tubes 30 include a first tube 34connecting the blood bag 22 and the branching connector 32, a secondtube 36 (first tubular body) connecting the PPP bag 24 and the branchingconnector 32, and a third tube 38 (second tubular body) connecting theliquid drug bag 26 and the branching connector 32. The first tube 34 hasa first flow path 34 a, the second tube 36 has a second flow path 36 a,and the third tube 38 has a third flow path 38 a. The first to thirdflow paths 34 a, 36 a, and 38 a communicate with each other via a flowpath in the branching connector 32.

A breakable sealing member 40 (click tip) is provided at an end portionof the first tube 34 on the blood bag 22 side. Similarly, a breakablesealing member 42 (see FIG. 3) is provided at an end portion of thethird tube 38 on the liquid drug bag 26 side. The sealing members 40 and42 block the first flow path 34 a and the third flow path 38 a until abreaking operation is performed, and prevent a liquid in the blood bag22 and the liquid drug bag 26 from being transported to the other bag20.

On the other hand, the centrifugal transport device 12 in which theseparator unit 16 of the blood bag system 10 is set includes abox-shaped base body 44, a lid 46 capable of opening and closing anupper surface of the base body 44, and a centrifugal drum 48 provided onthe base body 44. In addition, the base body 44 of the centrifugaltransport device 12 is provided with a motor (not illustrated) thatrotates the centrifugal drum 48, a control unit 50 that controls theoperation of the centrifugal transport device 12, and an operationdisplay unit 52 configured to allow the user to perform confirmation andoperation.

The centrifugal drum 48 has a plurality of (six) unit set areas 54 inwhich the separator unit 16 can be set. A height of one unit set area 54is longer than a longitudinal length of the bag 20, and is set in arange of 60° with respect to a rotation center of the centrifugal drum48. That is, the six unit set areas 54 are arrayed without a gap alongthe circumferential direction to form the centrifugal drum 48 which isan annular structure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the unit set area 54 applies thecentrifugal force to the blood bag 22 as the centrifugal drum 48rotates. Specifically, the unit set area 54 includes a blood bag pocket56 accommodating the blood bag 22, a PPP bag pocket 58 accommodating aPPP bag 24, and a liquid drug bag pocket 60 accommodating the liquiddrug bag 26 at radially outer positions of the centrifugal drum 48.

The blood bag pocket 56 is provided at the circumferential center of theunit set area 54 and has a larger volume than the PPP bag pocket 58 orthe liquid drug bag pocket 60. The PPP bag pocket 58 and the liquid drugbag pocket 60 form pockets 57 (bag accommodating portions) of a cassette84 provided side by side (adjacent) in the circumferential direction onthe radially outer side of the blood bag pocket 56. Opening sides of thePPP bag pocket 58 and the liquid drug bag pocket 60 form an arc-shapedcommon space 61 continuous with each other, and the PPP bag pocket 58and the liquid drug bag pocket 60 are individually divided with aboundary wall 59 interposed therebetween on the back side of the commonspace 61.

In addition, an upper surface 54 a of the unit set area 54 is configuredsuch that the plurality of tubes 30 of the blood bag system 10 aredisposed and retained thereon. The first tube 34 and a part of thesegment tube 28 are disposed in a central region 54 a 1 (first region)on the radially inner side of the blood bag pocket 56 on the uppersurface 54 a. The central region 54 a 1 is provided with a lid body 62that opens and closes an opening of the blood bag pocket 56. Further, asensor 66 (optical sensor), which detects a part of a breaking portion64 that breaks the sealing member 40 and a state of blood flowingthrough the first tube 34, is provided at an arrangement position of thefirst tube 34 closed by the lid body 62.

A part of the first tube 34 passing through the central region 54 a 1,the branching connector 32, a part of the second tube 36, and a part ofthe third tube 38 are disposed in a left region 54 a 2 (second region)of the upper surface 54 a. The left region 54 a 2 is provided with aholder 68 that retains the branching connector 32, a PPP clamp 70 thatopens and closes the second flow path 36 a of the second tube 36, and aliquid drug clamp 72 that opens and closes the third flow path 38 a ofthe third tube 38.

A part of the segment tube 28 passing through the central region 54 a 1is disposed in a right region 54 a 3 (third region) of the upper surface54 a. The right region 54 a 3 is provided with a segment pocket 74 thataccommodates the plurality of sealed tubes 28 a of the segment tube 28.

In addition, the unit set area 54 includes a slider 82 (pusher), whichpresses the blood bag 22 after centrifugation, on the radially innerside of the blood bag pocket 56. A surface of the slider 82 facing theblood bag 22 is formed on an inclined surface 82 a. The slider 82 movesforward and backward along the radial direction of the centrifugal drum48 under the control of the control unit 50 (see FIG. 1).

In the unit set area 54, the user accommodates the blood bag 22 storingthe removed blood, the empty PPP bag 24, and the liquid drug bag 26storing the liquid drug in the blood bag pocket 56, the PPP bag pocket58, and the liquid drug bag pocket 60, respectively. Then, the unit setarea 54 centrifuges the removed blood in the blood bag 22 by therotation of the centrifugal drum 48, advances the slider 82 after thecentrifugation to press the blood bag 22. As a result, PPP generated bythe centrifugation in the blood bag 22 is transported to the PPP bag 24,and RBC remains in the blood bag 22 after the transport of PPP.Thereafter, the blood bag system 10 is taken out from the centrifugaltransport device 12 by the user, and the liquid drug bag 26 is hung on astand (not illustrated). As a result, the red blood cell preservationsolution is supplied from the liquid drug bag 26 to the blood bag 22,and the blood bag 22 is turned into a state of storing the RBC (bloodproducts) containing a liquid drug.

Next, the PPP bag 24, the liquid drug bag 26, and the like of the bloodbag system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

The blood bag system 10 includes the cassette 84 that retains the PPPbag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 together. The cassette 84 is set inthe centrifugal transport device 12 in the state of retaining the PPPbag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26, causes the PPP bag 24 to beaccommodated in the PPP bag pocket 58, and causes the liquid drug bag 26to be accommodated in the liquid drug bag pocket 60.

The cassette 84 locks each of an upper end portion 25 of the PPP bag 24and an upper end portion 27 of the liquid drug bag 26 to suspend andretain the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26. One end of the secondtube 36 is connected to the upper end portion 25 of the PPP bag 24, andthe cassette 84 retains a predetermined range on one end side of thesecond tube 36 together. Similarly, one end of the third tube 38 isconnected to the upper end portion 27 of the liquid drug bag 26, and thecassette 84 retains a predetermined range on one end side of the thirdtube 38 together.

The PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 are formed in a bag shape byoverlapping a plurality of resin sheets and sealing the peripherythereof. A material forming the resin sheet is not particularly limited,and examples thereof include polyolefins such as polyvinyl chloride, anethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Inaddition, materials forming the second and third tubes 36 and 38 are notparticularly limited, either, and examples thereof include afluorine-based resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), anethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), and a perfluoroalkoxyfluorine resin (PFA), an olefin-based resin such as polyethylene andpolypropylene or a mixture thereof, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide,a polyether nylon resin, a mixture of the olefin-based resin and anethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and the like.

More specifically, the PPP bag 24 has a seal part 86 surrounding thestorage space 24 a, and is formed in a rectangular shape in a frontview. A pair of retaining holes 87 is provided at both ends in the widthdirection of a short side seal 86 a, which forms the upper end portion25, in the seal part 86.

In addition, a plurality of ports 88 are provided at the upper endportion 25 of the PPP bag 24. The plurality of ports 88 include aconnection port 88 a to which the second tube 36 is connected and twoextraction ports 88 b covered with a cover 88 b 1 that blocks outflow ofblood. Each of the ports 88 is welded in the state of communicating withthe storage space 24 a at the time of forming the seal part 86.

The second tube 36 includes an elongated tube main body 37 a formingmost of its entire length, and an end structure 37 b that is continuouswith an end portion of the tube main body 37 a and is formed thick to beconnected to the connection port 88 a.

On the other hand, the liquid drug bag 26 has a seal part 90 surroundingthe storage space 26 a, and is formed in a rectangular shape slightlysmaller than the PPP bag 24 in a plan view. A pair of retaining holes 91is provided at both ends in the width direction of the short side seal90 a, which forms the upper end portion 27, in the seal part 90.

In addition, a plurality of ports 92 are also provided in the upper endportion 27 of the liquid drug bag 26. The plurality of ports 92 includea connection port 92 a to which the third tube 38 is connected and afilling port 92 b to which a filling tube 93 is connected. The fillingtube 93 is used when the liquid drug is stored in the storage space 26a, and is cut and sealed after being filled with the liquid drug. Theplurality of ports 92 are welded in the state of communicating with thestorage space 26 a at the time of forming the seal part 90.

The third tube 38 includes an elongated tube main body 39 a forming mostof its entire length, and a cylindrical end structure 39 b that iscontinuous with an end portion of the tube main body 39 a and is formedthick to be connected to the connection port 92 a. The above-describedsealing member 42 is provided inside the end structure 39 b.

The cassette 84 includes a retaining portion 94 that collectivelyretains the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26, and a pair of framebodies 96 protruding downward (in a direction orthogonal to the widthdirection) from both ends of the retaining portion 94 in the widthdirection. Incidentally, the retaining portion 94 is preferablyconfigured to be foldable at the center in the width direction (see alsoFIG. 6). A configuration for folding the retaining portion 94 will bedescribed in detail later.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining portion 94is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the lateral direction(left-right direction) and short in the vertical direction (up-downdirection) in a front view. In addition, an extending portion of theretaining portion 94 in the longitudinal direction is formed in an arcshape so as to follow a shape of the common space 61 of the unit setarea 54 in a plan view. A thickness of the retaining portion 94 in thenormal direction (centrifugal direction) is larger than the expansion ofthe liquid drug bag 26 in which the liquid drug is stored. That is, thePPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 suspended vertically downward fromthe retaining portion 94 are not visible in the plan view of theretaining portion 94.

The retaining portion 94 has a PPP bag retaining region 94 a on the leftside and a liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b on the right side whenthe inner surface side of the arc is viewed. The PPP bag retainingregion 94 a includes a detachment mechanism 95 that detachably retainsthe PPP bag 24. On the other hand, the liquid drug bag retaining region94 b retains the liquid drug bag 26 in an undetachable manner.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the PPP bag retaining region 94 aincludes a main body portion 98 that retains the PPP bag 24, and a coverportion 100 attached to an inner surface 98 a of the main body portion98 (on the radially inner side of the arc portion) via a hinge 99. Themain body portion 98 is formed to be thicker than the cover portion 100,and a recessed portion 102 (bag retaining portion), which retains theupper end portion 25 of the PPP bag 24 and one end side of the secondtube 36, is formed on the inner surface 98 a. That is, the detachmentmechanism 95 includes the main body portion 98 having the recessedportion 102 and the cover portion 100.

The recessed portion 102 matches shapes of the short side seal 86 a ofthe upper end portion 25 of the PPP bag 24, each of the ports 88, andthe second tube 36 (the tube main body 37 a and the end structure 37 b),and detachably retains the PPP bag 24 and the second tube 36. A baggroove 102 a of the recessed portion 102 has a pair of pins 104 to beinserted into the pair of retaining holes 87 while accommodating theupper end portion 25 of the PPP bag 24. The PPP bag 24 is suspended fromthe PPP bag retaining region 94 a as the upper end portion 25 is caughtby the pair of pins 104. Incidentally, the retaining portion 94 is notlimited to the configuration in which the upper end of the PPP bag 24 issuspended by the pair of pins 104 as described above. For example, theretaining portion 94 may be configured to retain the PPP bag 24 bysandwiching the PPP bag 24 between the main body portion 98 and thecover portion 100 and to release the retaining of the PPP bag 24 byseparating the cover portion 100 from the main body portion 98.

A tube groove 102 b of the recessed portion 102 is continuous with thebag groove 102 a and extends in the up-down direction of the retainingportion 94. The tube groove 102 b communicates with a tube open groove106 (first tubular body groove) formed in an upper end surface of theretaining portion 94.

The tube open groove 106 is open upward, extends short to the radiallyouter side (in the thickness direction of the retaining portion 94) fromthe inner surface 98 a, then extends in an arc shape on the upper endsurface of the retaining portion 94, and communicates with an openingport 106 a provided on the side of the liquid drug bag retaining region94 b. That is, the tube open groove 106 extends in both the PPP bagretaining region 94 a and the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b, andaccommodates the second tube 36 along the extending shape thereof.

The tube open groove 106 has a locking portion (not illustrated) thatdetachably locks the second tube 36. For example, the locking portion isconfigured using an inner peripheral surface of the retaining portion 94forming the tube open groove 106, and the inner peripheral surface is inclose contact with an outer peripheral surface of the second tube 36with an appropriate frictional force.

Meanwhile, the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b is formed in ablock 108 continuous with the main body portion 98 of the PPP bagretaining region 94 a, and has an arrangement space 110 for retainingthe upper end portion 27 of the liquid drug bag 26 and one end side ofthe third tube 38 therein. The arrangement space 110 matches shapes ofthe short side seal 90 a, each of the ports 92, and the third tube 38(the tube main body 39 a and the end structure 39 b) of the upper endportion 27 of the liquid drug bag 26. A bag space 110 a of thearrangement space 110 has a pair of pins 112 to be inserted into thepair of retaining holes 91 while accommodating the upper end portion 27of the liquid drug bag 26. The liquid drug bag 26 is suspended from theliquid drug bag retaining region 94 b as the upper end portion 27 iscaught by the pair of pins 112. Incidentally, the liquid drug bagretaining region 94 b may be configured to retain the liquid drug bag 26by sandwiching the liquid drug bag.

A tube space 110 b of the arrangement space 110 communicates with thebag space 110 a, extends in the upward direction of the bag space 110 a,and communicates with a tube open groove 116 (second tubular bodygroove) formed on the upper end surface of the retaining portion 94. Thetube open groove 116 is open upward, extends in an arc shape on theupper end surface of the retaining portion 94, and communicates with anopening port 116 a provided on the side of the liquid drug bag retainingregion 94 b. The third tube 38 is accommodated along the tube space 110b and the tube open groove 116. In the tube space 110 b, the endstructure 39 b of the third tube 38 is disposed in a portion extendingin the up-down direction.

The block 108 of the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b has a windowportion 114 formed to communicate with the arrangement space 110 andexpose the end structure 39 b. The window portion 114 allows the user toaccess the end structure 39 b, and allows implementation of an operationof breaking the sealing member 42 provided in the end structure 39 b.Incidentally, a breaking mechanism (not illustrated) for breaking thesealing member 42 may be provided in the window portion 114 or the likeof the retaining portion 94.

In addition, the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b includes anaccommodating portion 118 that accommodates the third tube 38 formed tobe longer than a dimension of the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 bin the width direction. For example, the accommodating portion 118 iscontinuous with the bottom of the tube open groove 116, is formed in aspace, formed in the block 108, and accommodates the third tube 38 in awound state. Incidentally, an accommodation form of the third tube 38 inthe accommodating portion 118 is not particularly limited.

The above-described retaining portion 94 causes the PPP bag 24 and theliquid drug bag 26 to be suspended at positions separated from eachother by a predetermined interval. This interval is set to be slightlywider than the boundary wall 59 of the centrifugal drum 48. In addition,the retaining portion 94 retains the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag26 so as not to make contact with the pair of frame bodies 96 on theouter side in the width direction.

In addition, the retaining portion 94 is configured to be foldable inthe width direction at a boundary portion 121 between the PPP bagretaining region 94 a and the liquid drug bag retaining region 94 b asillustrated in FIG. 6 (in FIG. 6, the tube 30 is not illustrated foreasy understanding of the drawing). Therefore, the retaining portion 94has a hinge portion 122 on the radially outer side overlapping theboundary portion 121 (the side opposite to a surface where the coverportion 100 is installed). The hinge portion 122 is capable ofrelatively rotating the PPP bag retaining region 94 a and the liquiddrug bag retaining region 94 b with a shaft portion 122 a extending inthe up-down direction (vertical direction) as a base point.

Here, the blood bag system 10 is in a state where the cassette 84 isfolded such that the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 overlap eachother at the time of collecting blood. Further, the folded cassette 84,the PPP bag 24, and the liquid drug bag 26 are housed in a blister tray132 of the blood collection device 130 in the state of overlapping theother bags (the blood bag 22, the blood collection bag 134 of thepretreatment unit, the initial flow blood bag, the filter, and thelike). The blood collection device 130 applies a negative pressure toall the bags accommodated in an internal space 132 a of the blister tray132 to suck blood (perform vacuum blood collection). That is, since theblood bag system 10 is configured to fold the cassette 84, the bloodsampling can be performed by easily accommodating the cassette 84 in theblister tray 132.

Returning to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of frame bodies 96 of the cassette84 extends downward from both end portions of the retaining portion 94in the width direction below the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26.A lower end of the frame body 96 makes contact with a bottom wall (notillustrated) of the centrifugal drum 48 forming the PPP bag pocket 58and the liquid drug bag pocket 60, and defines a set height of thecassette 84 with respect to the centrifugal drum 48.

The blood bag system 10 according to the present embodiment is basicallyconfigured as described above, and operations thereof will be describedhereinafter.

As described above, the pretreatment unit is used by the user (medicalworker) during blood collection in the blood bag system 10. During theblood collection, the user collectively accommodates the plurality ofbags in the blister tray 132 of the blood collection device 130 in astate where the cassette 84 is folded and the plurality of bags overlapeach other (see FIG. 6). Then, the blood collection device 130 appliesthe negative pressure to the blister tray 132 to collect blood from thedonor. Further, the whole blood of the donor, stored in the bloodcollection bag 134 of the pretreatment unit, is caused to flow throughthe filter to obtain removed blood from which a predetermined component(white blood cell) has been removed, and the removed blood is stored inthe blood bag 22. Thereafter, the user separates the separator unit 16of the blood bag system 10 from the pretreatment unit and sets theseparator unit 16 in the centrifugal transport device 12 in order tocentrifuge the removed blood. The blood bag 22 is accommodated in theblood bag pocket 56 of the unit set area 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first to third tubes 34, 36, and 38 aredisposed in a predetermined path on the upper surface 54 a of the unitset area 54. Specifically, the second tube 36 is disposed so as toextend to the outer side in the centrifugal direction from the branchingconnector 32 in the left region 54 a 2 of the upper surface 54 a andpass through the PPP clamp 70. In addition, the third tube 38 isdisposed so as to extend to the outer side in the centrifugal directionfrom the branch connector 32 in the left region 54 a 2 of the uppersurface 54 a and pass through the liquid drug clamp 72, which is similarto the second tube 36.

Then, the user retains the cassette 84 and accommodates the PPP bag 24and the liquid drug bag 26 together with the cassette 84 in the commonspace 61 of the unit set area 54 as illustrated in FIG. 4. As describedabove, the retaining portion 94 matches the arc shape of the commonspace 61, and the orientation of the cassette 84 is guided such that thearc-shaped inner surface faces the inner side in the centrifugaldirection.

When the cassette 84 is moved vertically downward with respect to thecommon space 61, the PPP bag 24 is inserted into the PPP bag pocket 58,and the liquid drug bag 26 is inserted into the liquid drug bag pocket60. That is, the cassette 84 can quickly set the PPP bag 24 and theliquid drug bag 26.

In the cassette 84, a lower surface of the retaining portion 94 betweenthe PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 just makes contact with theboundary wall 59 in the state where the frame bodies 96 are set in thePPP bag pocket 58 and the liquid drug bag pocket 60. In the set state,the cassette 84 enters the common space 61 up to a lower portion(accommodating portion of the ports 88 and 92 and the like of the PPPbag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26) of the retaining portion 94. On theother hand, the tube open groove 106 of the cassette 84 and a portionextending in the width direction (along the arc) of the tube space 110 bprotrude above the common space 61. Therefore, the cassette 84 exposesthe opening ports 106 a and 116 a of the retaining portion 94 from thecommon space 61, and favorably sends the second and third tubes 36 and38 from the side of the retaining portion 94.

After the blood bag system 10 is set, the centrifugal transport device12 centrifuges the removed blood in the blood bag 22 into bloodcomponents having different specific gravities (PPP, RBC, and the like)by rotating the centrifugal drum 48 under the control of the controlunit 50. After such centrifugation, the centrifugal transport device 12presses the blood bag 22 by the slider 82. As a result, PPP having alight specific gravity flows out from the blood bag 22, and the PPPflows through the first tube 34, the branching connector 32, and thesecond tube 36 in this order and flows into the PPP bag 24. In addition,air present in the PPP bag 24 or the like during centrifugation ortransfer flows out to the second tube 36 according to the extension ofthe tube open groove 106 on the outer side in the centrifugal direction.

When PPP is transported from the blood bag 22 to the PPP bag 24, thecentrifugal transport device 12 retracts the slider 82 so that the bloodbag 22 can be taken out from the blood bag pocket 56. Thereafter, theuser removes the blood bag system 10 from the centrifugal transportdevice 12. At this time, the cassette 84 is also taken out, and the PPPbag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26 are quickly separated from thecentrifugal transport device 12.

After the take-out, the user performs an operation of separating the PPPbag 24 and the second tube 36 from the cassette 84. In this case, theuser opens the cover portion 100 that closes the main body portion 98 toexpose the recessed portion 102 as illustrated in FIG. 5. As a result,the PPP bag 24 and the second tube 36 can be taken out from the recessedportion 102. In addition, the second tube 36 can also be taken out fromthe tube open groove 106, and thus, the PPP bag 24 and the second tube36 are smoothly separated from the cassette 84.

In addition, the second tube 36 is broken and sealed at an appropriateposition by the user, and is further sealed at predetermined intervalsin a state where PPP is present inside, thereby being formed into aplurality of sealed tubes (segment tubes) (not illustrated). Each of thesealed tubes is subjected to inspection or the like at the time of usingPPP.

In addition, after the second tube 36 is separated from the cassette 84,the user suspends the liquid drug bag 26 on an addition base to supplythe red blood cell preservation solution in the liquid drug bag 26 tothe blood bag 22. At this time, the third tube 38 is taken out from thetube open groove 116 to linearly extend along the longitudinal directionof the liquid drug bag 26 as illustrated in FIG. 7. As a result, the redblood cell preservation solution can smoothly flow (under the action ofgravity) from the liquid drug bag 26 to the blood bag 22. As a result,RBC containing the red blood cell preservation solution is stored in theblood bag 22.

Incidentally, the blood bag system 10 may have a configuration in whichthe liquid drug bag 26 and the cassette 84 are collectively suspendedfrom the stand when the liquid drug bag 26 is set on the addition base.For example, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the framebody 96 of the cassette 84 may include a sub frame body 120 that retainsa part of the liquid drug bag 26 on the side opposite to the retainingportion 94 in a posture with the retaining portion 94 located on thelower side in the gravity direction. The sub frame body 120 has ahooking hole 120 a (hooking portion) for hooking the liquid drug bag 26to the addition base. As a result, it is possible to easily bring theliquid drug bag 26 into the suspended state.

Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to theabove-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made inaccordance with a gist of the invention. For example, the retainingportion 94 may be configured to cover the entire PPP bag 24 and theentire liquid drug bag 26 in a non-exposed state. In addition, theretaining portion 94 may be configured to suspend and retain the PPP bag24 connected to the second tube 36 and the liquid drug bag 26 connectedto the third tube 38 by fixing the second tube 36 and the third tube 38.Alternatively, the cassette 84 may be configured to set the second tube36 and the third tube 38 in a free state while retaining the PPP bag 24and the liquid drug bag 26.

A means for installing the cassette 84 in the common space 61 (the PPPbag pocket 58 and the liquid drug bag pocket 60) is not limited todisposing the pair of frame bodies 96 extending from the retainingportion 94 on the bottom wall. For example, it may be configured suchthat the pair of frame bodies 96 are formed short to engage the pair offrame bodies 96 with side walls surrounding the common space 61.

In addition, the cover portion 100 is not limited to the configurationof being attached to the main body portion 98 via the hinge 99, and maybe, for example, detachably attached to the main body portion 98.Alternatively, the retaining portion 94 may be configured to expose therecessed portion 102 without including the cover portion 100.

Further, the cassette 84 is configured to undetachably retain the liquiddrug bag 26 in the present embodiment, but is not limited thereto, andmay be also configured to be detachably retain the liquid drug bag 26.As a detachment mechanism (not illustrated) of the liquid drug bag 26,the same mechanism as that of the PPP bag 24 can be adopted.

Furthermore, the centrifugal transport device 12 in the presentembodiment includes the PPP bag pocket 58 and the liquid drug bag pocket60 individually, but is not limited thereto, and the PPP bag 24 and theliquid drug bag 26 may be collectively accommodated in one pocket 57.

Technical ideas and effects that can be grasped from the above-describedembodiments are described as follows.

Since the blood bag system 10 includes the cassette 84, the first bag(PPP bag 24) and the second bag (liquid drug bag 26) retained by thecassette 84 can be integrally handled. That is, the user can smoothlyperform the work of disposing the PPP bag 24 and the liquid drug bag 26in the pocket 57 by gripping and operating the cassette 84 when settingthe blood bag system 10 in the centrifugal transport device 12. Further,the blood bag system 10 allows the PPP bag 24 to be detached from thecassette 84, thereby speeding up the work after removing the blood bagsystem 10 from the centrifugal transport device 12. Therefore, the bloodbag system 10 can significantly improve the work efficiency.

In addition, the cassette 84 includes the frame bodies 96 which areprovided at both the ends of the retaining portion 94 in the widthdirection and can be disposed on the walls forming the bag accommodatingportion (pocket 57). The cassette 84 is smoothly disposed on the wallforming the pocket 57 in the state of retaining the PPP bag 24 and theliquid drug bag 26 by the retaining portion 94 and the frame body 96.Further, the cassette 84 can suppress misalignment of the PPP bag 24 andthe liquid drug bag 26 during centrifugation by the centrifugaltransport device 12.

In addition, the retaining portion 94 includes the main body portion 98having the bag retaining portion (recessed portion 102) capable ofdetachably retaining the first bag (PPP bag 24), and the cover portion100 capable of maintaining the state where the first bag is retained bythe bag retaining portion, thereby forming the detachment mechanism 95.As a result, the user of the blood bag system 10 can operate the coverportion 100 to set the recessed portion 102 in a non-exposed state toprevent detachment of the PPP bag 24, and to set the recessed portion102 in an exposed state to smoothly detach the PPP bag 24.

In addition, one end of the first tubular body (second tube 36) isconnected to the first bag (PPP bag 24), and one end of the secondtubular body (third tube 38) is connected to the second bag (liquid drugbag 26). The cassette 84 retains a predetermined range on one end sideof the first tubular body and a predetermined range on one end side ofthe second tubular body together with the first and second bags, and thedetachment mechanism 95 is capable of detaching at least the firsttubular body. As a result, the cassette 84 can allow the second andthird tubes 36 and 38 to be easily disposed at the time of setting theblood bag system 10, and the work efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, the cassette 84 exposes the first tubular body (second tube36) and the second tubular body (third tube 38) from the same surface ofthe retaining portion 94, and the detachment mechanism 95 has the firsttubular body groove (tube open groove 106) which extends to the openingport 106 a formed on one surface of the retaining portion 94 and allowsthe first tubular body to be taken in and out. As a result, thearrangement of the second and third tubes 36 and 38 are simplified, andit is possible to further suppress the second and third tubes 36 and 38from projecting. In addition, the cassette 84 can easily separate thesecond tube 36 from the tube open groove 106.

In addition, the first tubular body groove (tube open groove 106) has aportion that causes the first tubular body (second tube 36) to extend tothe outer side in the centrifugal direction of the centrifugal drum 48from a retaining site of the first bag (PPP bag 24). As a result, theblood bag system 10 can move the air in the PPP bag 24 and the secondtube 36 to the outer side in the centrifugal direction duringcentrifugation of the centrifugal transport device 12, and can reducethe residual of air in the PPP bag 24.

In addition, the cassette 84 has the second tubular body groove (tubeopen groove 116) which exposes the second bag (liquid drug bag 26) fromthe retaining portion 94 along the longitudinal direction of the secondbag and allows the second tubular body (third tube 38) to be taken inand out, and the second tubular body can extend from a connection siteof the second bag along the extension in the longitudinal direction in astate of being taken out from the second tubular body groove. As aresult, when the third tube 38 is taken out from the tube open groove116, the blood bag system 10 can cause the third tube 38 to extend alongthe extension in the longitudinal direction of the liquid drug bag 26,and cause the liquid drug to smoothly flow from the liquid drug bag 26.

In addition, the retaining portion 94 undetachably retains the secondbag (liquid drug bag 26). As a result, the blood bag system 10 candiscard the cassette 84 together with the used liquid drug bag 26.

In addition, the retaining portion 94 has the window portion 114 throughwhich the second tubular body (third tube 38) can be partially exposed.As a result, the blood bag system 10 can access the third tube 38 fromthe outside of the cassette 84 through the window portion 114.

In addition, the breakable sealing member 42 provided on the secondtubular body (third tube 38) is located in the window portion 114. As aresult, the user can easily break the sealing member 42 provided in thethird tube 38.

In addition, the cassette 84 includes the hooking portion (hooking hole120 a) for hooking on a hanging portion (addition base) in the posturewith the retaining portion 94 located on the lower side in the directionof gravity with respect to the second bag (liquid drug bag 26). As aresult, the liquid drug bag 26 and the cassette 84 can be suspendedtogether, and the liquid drug can smoothly flow out of the liquid drugbag 26.

In addition, the cassette 84 accommodates one side of the first bag (PPPbag 24) formed in a rectangular shape and one side of the second bag(liquid drug bag 26) formed in a rectangular shape therein, therebyretaining the first and second bags in a suspended state. As a result,the structure of the cassette 84 is simplified, and the blood bag system10 is reduced in weight and can be more easily handled by the user.

In addition, the retaining portion 94 has the hinge portion 122 foldableat the boundary portion 121 between a region for retaining the first bag(PPP bag 24) and a region for retaining the second bag (liquid drug bag26). As a result, the blood bag system 10 can take a form in which thebags are stacked by folding the cassette 84, for example, and can beeasily accommodated in the blister tray 132 of the blood collectiondevice 130 at the time of collecting blood.

1. A blood bag system comprising: a first bag and a second bag which areaccommodated adjacent to each other in a bag accommodating portion of acentrifugal drum of a centrifugal transport device; and a cassette whichhas a retaining portion that retains both the first bag and the secondbag and is accommodated in the bag accommodating portion in a retainingstate of the retaining portion, the retaining portion having a widthdirection, wherein the cassette has a detachment mechanism capable ofdetaching at least the first bag; and a pair of frame bodies provided atboth end portions of the retaining portion in a width direction, and thepair of frame bodies protrudes from both the end portions of theretaining portion along long sides of the first bag and the second bag,and extends, with respect to the first bag and the second bag, longerthan the long sides of the respective bags in directions of the longsides.
 2. The blood bag system according to claim 1, wherein thecassette includes frame bodies which are provided at both end portionsof the retaining portion in said width direction and are arrangeable onwalls forming the bag accommodating portion.
 3. The blood bag systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion includes a main bodyportion having a bag retaining portion capable of detachably retainingthe first bag and a cover portion capable of maintaining a state ofretaining the first bag in the bag retaining portion to form thedetachment mechanism.
 4. The blood bag system according to claim 1,wherein said first bag is connected to a first tubular body at one endof said first tubular body, and said second bag is connected to a secondtubular body at one end of a second tubular body, the cassette retains apredetermined range on one end side of the first tubular body and apredetermined range on one end side of the second tubular body togetherwith the first and second bags, and the detachment mechanism is capableof detaching at least the first tubular body.
 5. The blood bag systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the cassette exposes the first tubularbody and the second tubular body from one surface of the retainingportion, and the detachment mechanism includes a first tubular bodygroove which extends to an opening port formed on the one surface of theretaining portion and allows the first tubular body to be taken in andout.
 6. The blood bag system according to claim 5, wherein the firsttubular body groove has a portion that causes the first tubular body toextend to an outer side in a centrifugal direction of the centrifugaldrum from a retaining site of the first bag.
 7. The blood bag systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the cassette includes a second tubularbody groove which exposes the second bag from the retaining portionalong a longitudinal direction of the second bag and allows the secondtubular body to be taken in and out, and the second tubular body iscapable of extending along an extension in the longitudinal directionfrom a connection site of the second bag in a state of being taken outfrom the second tubular body groove.
 8. The blood bag system accordingto claim 1, wherein the retaining portion undetachably retains thesecond bag.
 9. The blood bag system according to claim 8, wherein theretaining portion has a window portion capable of partially exposing thesecond tubular body.
 10. The blood bag system according to claim 9,wherein a breakable sealing member provided on the second tubular bodyis located in the window portion.
 11. The blood bag system according toclaim 1, wherein the cassette includes a hooking portion for hooking ona hanging portion in a posture with the retaining portion located on alower side in a direction of gravity with respect to the second bag. 12.The blood bag system according to claim 1, wherein the cassetteaccommodates one side of the first bag formed in a rectangular shape andone side of the second bag formed in a rectangular shape inside toretain the first and second bags in a suspended state.
 13. The blood bagsystem according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion includes ahinge portion foldable at a boundary portion between a region forretaining the first bag and a region for retaining the second bag.